Settings

Does TLP conflict with my desktop’s power settings?

It depends on the individual setting. TLP:

  • Does not touch display or keyboard backlight brightness → no conflict

  • Does not change suspend / hibernate settings → no conflict

  • Applies WiFi power saving by default → conflict with KDE energy saving settings possible

  • Applies charge thresholds → conflict with KDE charge limit setting possible

  • Switches radio devices on and off when configured by the user → conflict with GNOME power settings or KDE energy saving settings possible

  • GNOME’s power-profiles-daemon disables TLP on boot → severe conflict (see Installation)

  • Pop!_OS’s system76-power works on the same set of kernel settings → severe conflict - do not use together with TLP

  • Slimbook Battery uses TLP as backend and overwrites TLP’s configuration files → conflict - if you want to configure TLP yourself, you have to uninstall Slimbook Battery

“Conflict possible” means that the setting configured in TLP may get overwritten by the desktop’s setting (and vice versa). System stability issues are not to be expected from those conflicts.

How can I change TLP’s settings?

See Settings.

Does upgrading TLP overwrite my settings?

No. Package managers take care not to replace a user edited configuration file without explicit user confirmation and create a backup copy too.

How do I transfer my settings when upgrading from version 1.2.2 (and older) to 1.3 (and newer)?

Read about the config files first to learn about the current configuration scheme (introduced in version 1.3).

There are three migration paths:

1. 1:1 Takeover

The format of the configuration file has not changed, only the location. Save the pristine /etc/tlp.conf and copy /etc/default/tlp to /etc/tlp.conf.

Debian and Ubuntu only: if /etc/default/tlp was ever edited by you, upgrading to version 1.3 or newer moves it to /etc/tlp.conf automatically. The pristine tlp.conf ends up in /etc/tlp.conf.dpkg-new.

2. Start from Scratch with /etc/tlp.conf

Just enter your specific settings into /etc/tlp.conf. Other than with version 1.2.2 and older all parameters in /etc/tlp.conf are disabled, you have to remove the comment character # in the first column for parameters you want to change.

Note

Debian and Ubuntu only: move /etc/tlp.conf.dpkg-new to /etc/tlp.conf if necessary (see above).

3. Start over with a new File below /etc/tlp.d/

Create a new file 01-mytlp.conf copying 00-template.conf, then enter your specific settings only. The exact file name does not matter as long as it ends in .conf. You may as well split your settings into several files.

Note

Debian and Ubuntu only: remember to move the pristine /etc/tlp.conf.dpkg-new to /etc/tlp.conf if necessary (see above).